2009 Pontiac G3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
45,224 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 18 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Electrical System: 4; Engine: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Air Bags: 2; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10273646 · 2009-06-12 (June 12, 2009)
GAUGES IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DIFFICULT TO READ. THE TRIM AROUND THE CLUSTER DIVIDES THE GAUGES INTO INDIVIDUAL PODS. THE TRIM IS BLACK AND THE GAUGE FACE IS ALSO BLACK WITH RED INDICATOR NEEDLE. THE TRIM DOES NOT ALLOW ENOUGH LIGHT INTO THE POD AREA TO SEE THE NEEDLE IN THE DAYTIME. YOU CAN BARELY SEE THE NEEDLE EVEN WHEN THE CLUSTER LIGHTS ARE ON. THE GAUGES ARE SO SMALL, THE STEERING WHEEL BLOCKS VIEWING THEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10284549 · 2009-09-18 (September 18, 2009)
CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS NOT BACK-LIT. CANNOT SEE WHICH BUTTON TO PUSH AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING.*TR
Owner-reported narrative. 57 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326050 · 2010-04-16 (April 16, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398182 · 2011-04-28 (April 28, 2011)
THREE TIMES NOW I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND HAVE LOST POWER (ACCELERATION) OF MY VEHICLE . THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON THE "FREEWAY" AND ALMOST WAS KILLED BY A TRUCK AND THE OTHER TWO TIMES I WAS IN DRIVING IN "WALMART"PARKING LOT. SECONDLY, MY LIGHTS HAVE TWICE FLASHED (DOME LIGHT AND DASHBOARD) FOR NO REASON. THIRDLY,THE PASSENGER SIGN SPEAKER HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND STILL DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. FOURTHLY, ONE TIME THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO START -UP. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED SINCE THIS WAS MY FIRST "NEW CAR" PURCHASE!!! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490376 · 2012-12-28 (December 28, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER 20 DEGREES OR BELOW, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED HER THE USE OF A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE THEY FURTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APP…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513559 · 2013-05-26 (May 26, 2013)
I HAD A COUPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. FIST HAD TO REPAIR THE AC 3 TIMES, RADIO TWICE (REPLACED IT ON THE SECOND TIME). TWO MONTHS AGO BREAKING LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. WENT TO THE DEALER AND GOT IT FIXED (TOOK IT TO MIDAS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS). THEN I NOTICE THAT IT WOULD WORK ONLY WHEN I PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL STRONGLY AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. NOW THEY ARE NOT WORKING AGAIN AND I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR. ALL THE 3 BRAKING LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. IT IS NOT THE FUSE THAT YOU CAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,239 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10573274 · 2014-03-18 (March 18, 2014)
FRONTAL COLLISION ,CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS, AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. I'M CONVINCED THIS HAD TO DO WITH GM IGNITION PROBLEM! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10587167 · 2014-05-08 (May 8, 2014)
HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONICS IN STEERING WHEEL. HORN,CRUISE,STEREO CONTROLS ALL WENT OUT AT ONE TIME . AIR BAGS TURN THEMSELVES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN WITH PASSENGERS IN BOTH FRONT SEATS. I FEEL THIS MAY BE IGNITION SWITCH RELATED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 69,325 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587167 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V460000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Fluid
Reported: 2014-07-29 (July 29, 2014)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Aveo and 2009 Pontiac G3 vehicles. The vehicles may contain brake fluid which does not protect against corrosion of the valves inside the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module, affecting the closing motion of the valves.
Consequence: If the ABS valve corrodes it may result in longer brake pedal travel or reduced performance, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS module, free of charge, in any vehicle that did not have its module replaced under a previous customer satisfaction campaign. The recall began in late September 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac). GM's number for this recall is 14505.
NHTSA campaign record ↗